Trivia: Most impressive stretch of line on the network?

quantinghome · 25 Mar 2020

Journeyman said:
Yeah, I like that too - the rest of the ECML is incredibly boring.

Ooh, I don't know about that. Some bits are boring for sure, but taking in the big skies in open country on the southern ECML is rather majestic, especially on a bright frosty winter morning.

From a strictly engineering perspective HS1 is surely the most impressive. There are larger single structures on the network, and the views aren't much to write home about given the tendency to hide the line from its surroundings, but taken as a whole the job HS1 does is remarkable. St. Pancras is marvelous. The route is so well engineered and quick you don't even notice what it has to do to get you to the Channel.

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Pinus contorta · 26 Mar 2020

Luxulyan valley on the Newquay branch.

4REP · 26 Mar 2020

Pinus contorta said:
Luxulyan valley on the Newquay branch.

1. Between Berwick and Edinburgh
2. Exeter to Newton Abbott
3.The whole of the Cornish mainline starting with IKB Bridge and the series of viaducts and scenery stretching to Penzance.

HowardGWR · 26 Mar 2020

I keep seeing this thread and wondering what was the difference between impressing and impressive. I've looked it up and the difference is that the first isn't apparently English and the second is.

I think the prettiest stretch is the long stretch of line from Trowbridge where it joins the Avon valley at Staverton (Holt Junction), through Bath, as far as St Annes (Bristol No 2 Tunnel). Perhaps this is the gentlest and most gentile lineside scenery in the whole of England.
Whether that is impressive is of course an entirely subjective view.

Harold Hill · 26 Mar 2020

Birmingham New St to King's Norton via St Andrew's Junction for it's great views of the city skyline

32475 · 26 Mar 2020

All hail the stretch from Kyle to Plockton. Scenic perfection. I commend it to the House

32475 · 26 Mar 2020

scotrail158713 · 26 Mar 2020

32475 said:
All hail the stretch from Kyle to Plockton. Scenic perfection. I commend it to the House

32475 said:
View attachment 75806 View attachment 75806

I so want to do that journey at some point. The lovely Scottish weather might have other plans when I finally get round to it though.

MrEd · 26 Mar 2020

scotrail158713 said:
I so want to do that journey at some point. The lovely Scottish weather might have other plans when I finally get round to it though.

It’s a fantastic stretch of line with some coastal views which are nothing short of sensational. It’s amazing in all seasons and whatever the weather (though let’s hope visibility is good enough for you to see the hills of Skye across the water). These were pics I took on my last two trips over the stretch this winter.

Esker-pades · 26 Mar 2020

If you're doing the Kyle Line, it's worth jumping off at a few of the stations. There are some spectacular views a short walk from Stromeferry, for example.

d9009alycidon · 27 Mar 2020

I was once lucky enough to do the West Highland and Kyle lines in the same day, and the weather was as per the photo's above. 06:00 Queen Street to Fort William then to Mallaig, Ferry to Armadale, service bus to Kyleakin (with the driver stopping every now and then to point out the highlights of the scenery), ferry to Kyle then evening train to Inverness, it was an amazing day.

MrEd · 27 Mar 2020

FelixtheCat said:
If you're doing the Kyle Line, it's worth jumping off at a few of the stations. There are some spectacular views a short walk from Stromeferry, for example.

You're so right! I always tell folk that there's actually much more that is of interest at a lot of the wee intermediate stations (even at the tiny wee request halts) than there is at Kyle itself (which, although the surroundings are spectacular, does not have a great deal going for it from a visitor's perspective- it's still a great place to see though). Achnashellach is good for a walk up into the hills through spectacular wooded and mountain country, then there's the gardens and lochside at Attadale. An idyllic lochside walk will take you from Duncraig to Plockton, and at Plockton itself there's a fantastic walk to a secluded coral beach, as well as one of the most beautiful villages in Scotland to explore, with two fantastic pubs and no end of fantastic viewpoints over the loch.

I would absolutely 100% recommend getting off the train at Duirinish, one of the line's quirky request halts, where if you go across the level crossing after the train has departed, you can walk to another spectacularly situated township called Port an Eorna and do what I think is one of the most spectacular coastal walks in all Scotland, with amazing views of Skye and the Wester Ross hills. This takes you all along the coast to a secluded beach and to the township of Drumbuie, another beautiful spot, from where another footpath takes you back to Duirinish itself. Duirinish is another picture-postcard settlement which is known for its herd of free-roaming Highland cattle, and the two rows of period cottages on either side of a fast-flowing river. There's also a beautiful wee café there which does some lovely home-cooked lunches and cakes. If you want to make a day of it, I would definitely recommend getting off one of the morning trains from Inverness here, then going on to Kyle later in the day and going back to Inverness from there.

Esker-pades · 27 Mar 2020

MrEd said:
You're so right! I always tell folk that there's actually much more that is of interest at a lot of the wee intermediate stations (even at the tiny wee request halts) than there is at Kyle itself (which, although the surroundings are spectacular, does not have a great deal going for it from a visitor's perspective- it's still a great place to see though). Achnashellach is good for a walk up into the hills through spectacular wooded and mountain country, then there's the gardens and lochside at Attadale. An idyllic lochside walk will take you from Duncraig to Plockton, and at Plockton itself there's a fantastic walk to a secluded coral beach, as well as one of the most beautiful villages in Scotland to explore, with two fantastic pubs and no end of fantastic viewpoints over the loch

I did a visit to Achnashellach, but I went the other way and sat on the banks of Loch Dughail. I'd like to revisit at some point (when it isn't November and freezing) to do some proper walks).
I've not yet done Attadale, or Duncraig. Given your advice, I'm certainly going to give the walk from Plockton to Duncraig a go.

I would absolutely 100% recommend getting off the train at Duirinish, one of the line's quirky request halts, where if you go across the level crossing after the train has departed, you can walk to another spectacularly situated township called Port an Eorna and do what I think is one of the most spectacular coastal walks in all Scotland, with amazing views of Skye and the Wester Ross hills. This takes you all along the coast to a secluded beach and to the township of Drumbuie, another beautiful spot, from where another footpath takes you back to Duirinish itself. Duirinish is another picture-postcard settlement which is known for its herd of free-roaming Highland cattle, and the two rows of period cottages on either side of a fast-flowing river. There's also a beautiful wee café there which does some lovely home-cooked lunches and cakes. If you want to make a day of it, I would definitely recommend getting off one of the morning trains from Inverness here, then going on to Kyle later in the day and going back to Inverness from there.

The circular walk from Duirinish is absolutly chuffing brilliant. I had the misfortune to catch some variable conditions (windy and spitting with rain), but it's a wonderful thing.

Lochluichart has some utterly brilliant views if one crosses the level crossing and looks out across the loch, and Strome Wood (above Stromeferry) is the most fabulous place. I wish I'd been there longer.

DynamicSpirit · 27 Mar 2020

Cricketer8for9 said:
This has become a different version of prettiest. My version of impressive is something like the south Western Main Line with flying junctions disappearing off at regular intervals (7+ Wimbledon flyover to just past Basingstoke)

If you're going for railway-structure kind of impressive, I'd have thought that further up that same SW Main Line is even better - between Vauxhall and Clapham Junction - with lines heading off all over the place (admittedly not so many grade separated junctions though if you specifically want that).

The new grade separation between London Bridge and New Cross is also pretty cool to travel on - although that may be in part a personal bias because I remember being so impressed the first time I went on it after the grade separation was completed - as the train seemed to speed up to go along that section considerably faster than it ever used to when it was a flat junction.

Going back in the past a little, when I was growing up, I used to sometimes travel between Euston and South Hampstead, and I seem to recall near Chalk Farm there were loads of sidings, which to my 7-year-old eyes looked incredible because there were so many tracks. They don't seem to be there any more, and even if they were it is of course possible that my adult eyes today would regard them as completely unremarkable.

DynamicSpirit · 27 Mar 2020

Back to 'beautiful-scenery' type impressive, I'm surprised noone has mentioned the Windermere branch, most of which is stunning - especially at the Windermere end. And if the weather is good, Oxenholme station is an absolutely beautiful place to wait for your train at, with views across Kendal.

yorksrob · 27 Mar 2020

DynamicSpirit said:
Going back in the past a little, when I was growing up, I used to sometimes travel between Euston and South Hampstead, and I seem to recall near Chalk Farm there were loads of sidings, which to my 7-year-old eyes looked incredible because there were so many tracks. They don't seem to be there any more, and even if they were it is of course possible that my adult eyes today would regard them as completely unremarkable.

I can remember going up to University in the 90's that way, and there used to be a couple of very impressive big signal boxes in those yards.

Cricketer8for9 · 27 Mar 2020

The new grade separation between London Bridge and New Cross is also pretty cool to travel on - although that may be in part a personal bias because I remember being so impressed the first time I went on it after the grade separation was completed - as the train seemed to speed up to go along that section considerably faster than it ever used to when it was a flat junction.

I’m still pleasantly surprised heading into London Bridge from the south to see South Eastern trains to my left. Indeed it still feels strange, they should be on my right.

SthMan · 31 Mar 2020

Haha I'm going to laugh before I post this controversial post; it depends on what you define as impressive?

I'm from a traditional building background, but when such a magnificent structure can straddle 6 lanes 2 hard shoulders and filter lanes of the busy M60 motorway in just two mouthfuls, whilst straddling several other roadways, a bus station, a sports superstore etc. whilst holding up 4 lines of WCML traffic.

Consisting of 11 million bricks, high, long, broad and still as integral today as in its inception, I believe you should take a bow and appreciate the mention of Stockport Viaduct.

klass43 · 20 Apr 2020

Exeter - Newton abbot
Cambrian Coast Line
Ffestiniog Railway
Settle - Carlisle

Whistler40145 · 20 Apr 2020

West Highland Line
Highland Mainline
Kyle Line
WCML especially the section from Oxeholme to Shap Summit and the climb up to Beattock Summit

apk55 · 20 Apr 2020

I like the Calder valley line between Littleborough and Sowerby bridge. Classic example of a railway, canal and road threading along a narrow deep valley.

Robertj21a · 20 Apr 2020

1. Kyle line
2. Far North line
3. Stranraer line

2392 · 20 Apr 2020

The Esk Valley, Middlesbrough-Whitby line. Especially beyond Nunthorpe which is the edge of the industrial/suburban Middlesbrough section. There's quite a selection of scenic sections even the approach into Whitby itself under the spectacular Lapool Viaduct which was on the Middlesbrough-Saltburn-Whitby-Scarborough line along the coast. The Saltburn-Whitby West Cliff section closed in the fifties with the through route Whitby-Scarborough section closing in the sixties as part of the Beeching cuts. Though the section via the brilliantly named Bog Hall Junction to Hawsker was left in situ until the early/mid seventies on the off chance that a potash mine would be opened.

Mikey C · 20 Apr 2020

quantinghome said:
Ooh, I don't know about that. Some bits are boring for sure, but taking in the big skies in open country on the southern ECML is rather majestic, especially on a bright frosty winter morning.

From a strictly engineering perspective HS1 is surely the most impressive. There are larger single structures on the network, and the views aren't much to write home about given the tendency to hide the line from its surroundings, but taken as a whole the job HS1 does is remarkable. St. Pancras is marvelous. The route is so well engineered and quick you don't even notice what it has to do to get you to the Channel.

I always enjoy the section where it passes over northbound traffic exiting the Dartford tunnel(s) then under the southbound traffic on the QEII bridge, it slots though the gap perfectly!

here

delt1c · 20 Apr 2020

How about Rannoch Moor on WHL, very Scenic , but also a feat for its construction effectively "floating" on the moor

fgwrich · 20 Apr 2020

For me, I would stretch the comments about Dawlish - Newton Abbot from Exeter to Plymouth. Purely because, as you race out of the southern side of Exeter on track as smooth as a billiard table, through the floodplains of Exminster and to the rivers edge near Powderham, you then begin the beautiful stretch along the sea wall from Starcross and the River Exe, through Dawlish & Teignmouth, to run alongside the River Teign up to Newton Abbot. Then only 5 minutes later you turn for the twists and turns of the South Devon Banks and the lush green forests of South Devon.

But I would also agree about the Fife Coast, From Dalmany up to Dundee. The stretch particularly between Burntisland and Kinghorn being probably my favourite - it's beautiful!

As for the Kyle Line. Controversial opinion here but, while I do agree that it's a beautiful stretch of line, I found it rather tedious and slow. Very stop start. If anything, the line between Forth William and Mallaig wins it for me in that part of the Highlands.

Meerkat · 20 Apr 2020

Mikey C said:
I always enjoy the section where it passes over northbound traffic exiting the Dartford tunnel(s) then under the southbound traffic on the QEII bridge, it slots though the gap perfectly!

here

It gets a bit like a rollercoaster round there!

timj · 20 Apr 2020

Cumbrian Coast around Whitehaven

GRALISTAIR · 20 Apr 2020

Whistler40145 said:
Preston to Carlisle especially the Lune Gorge
Carlisle to Glasgow Central over Beattock Summit

My favourite too

si404 · 20 Apr 2020

London Bridge - Charing Cross - scenic in a different sense to the rural examples that dominate this thread, but additionally impressive to have managed to get such a line built over such a busy bit of Central London. The approaches to London Bridge and Waterloo likewise - less busy bit of London, but much wider alignment (and still rather scenic).

The bit of line just north of Farringdon, where the Widened Lines and Underground cross over in the open cut is impressive too.

Trivia: Most impressive stretch of line on the network?

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